As the famous proverb goes ‘prevention is better than cure’ which holds true in several situations, including a garden's health. For a garden to thrive and plants to grow properly while insuring that your hard work is bearing fruits it is important to regularly check for health issues in plants, spot any underlying problems if they exist and then take immediate action before it is too late. One's profile doesn’t matter – one can be a hobbyist, a home gardener or a hardworking farmer the mere thought of their plants being destroyed by insects is distressing. By taking a few measures, one can keep their plants healthy and keep a check on the growth of undesirable elements that can threaten the plant healthy growth.
Here are a few ways to keep an eye on plant diseases in your garden
Develop the habit of good cleanliness
The habit of keeping plants healthy, using excellent and proper sanitation practices is essential for gardens especially for vegetable gardens that are regularly exposed to external threats including invasive insects and pests. Keep the garden clean, devoid from weeds and debris. Trim away the branches, remove weeds using weedicides.
Fertilize as and when necessary
When it comes to using fertilizers, there is a popular misconception that their extensive use leads to better results. On the contrary fertilizers should not be overused because it can prompt unnatural growth of plants and weeds, attract invasive insects and pests more frequently and this eventually leads to serious challenges. Wisely use fertilizers as much as necessary. Take an expert's recommendation about the type of fertilizer your plants would need to thrive and how to apply them safely and in what volume.
Spot plants for any existing health issues before bringing them home
Many gardeners often get shocked to see sudden signs or spots of diseases in plants of their entirely healthy and disease-free garden. Sometimes, the garden is not at fault nor any invasive species that wanted to hide away. The reason for the disease could be a newly introduced plant that had a preexisting condition. That is why it is essential to thoroughly check plants for diseases before bringing them home from the nursery. If you witness any slightest of issues, prefer not to bring it home.
Rotate crop to keep your garden healthy
Crop rotation can have a lot of advantages. It can increase soil fertility, increase crop yield, improve nutrients available in the soil and reduce soil erosion. Most importantly, crop rotation can prevent the concentration of invasive pests and plant diseases. It is a practical, resourceful and economical way to produce healthy crops and also keep the soil fertile.
Water on time
Water your plants but refrain from watering untimely. Several types of plant pests and fungal elements need cool, damp ecosystems to thrive. Once they find a favourable environment, then it becomes hard to eliminate them completely. That is why it is beneficial to water your plants at a fixed time every day but most importantly at the start of the day. Watering plants in the morning supports their natural growth cycle, helping them to get benefit from good hydration at the time when they are ready to absorb more water. Also, in the absence of a damp environment harmful elements won't get a chance to invade the plants.
Get rid of pests and insects
Many bugs and insects are voracious feeders. Once they get a chance to thrive, they quickly adapt to changing environment, spread faster and cause huge damage to the plants if left unchecked. Also they can inflict bites and stings to humans and animals to spread diseases. That is why it is very important to check for bugs, pests and insects in plants and remove them as soon as they are spotted.
These are just some of the many ways to prevent the spread of diseases in plants and for healthy gardening. Should you want to learn more about pesticides, please feel free to talk to an expert now.
